Cotton roll holder



June 10, 1952 c, KANTER 2,600,001

COTTON ROLL HOLDER Filed Dec. 22, 1950 IN VEN TOR.

Patented June 10, 1952 UNITED. STATES PATENT OFFICE sorrow ROLL semen Jack o. Kanter, Norfolk, vs. Appiicatitn lie'ceinber 22, 1950, Serial No. 202,190

(ol.'3z-=-s5') @3 Claims.

The present invention relates to dental appliances, and is particularly concerned with'i'm provements in holders for holding cotton rolls which are used to maintain parts of the teeth in a dry condition.

One of the objects of the invention is the provision of an improved cotton roll holder which holds a roll of cottonin the upper cheek, which is self-adjusting, cannot become displaced while being used, and which provides a clear operating field for easy access to "all the upper and lower teeth without obstructions or interferenceo'n the part of the appliance.

Another object of the invention is the pro"- visio'n of an improved cotton roll holder which occupies a minimum space, which permits access to the bucc'al surface of the upper posterior teeth, and which has no connecting bands cross ing over the occlusal surface of the lower teeth, which would limit access and vision.

Another object of 'theinvention is the provision of an improved cotton roll holder which is more efficient and more comfortable than the devices of the prior art, and which maintains a complete dryness by retaining a third upper cotton roll in the buccal fold of the maxilla.

Another object of the invention is the provision of an improved cotton roll holder in which the spring pressure adjusts itself and aids in keeping the patients mouth open, and which permits sodium fluoride therapy being rendered without necessity for manually holding cotton rolls in position.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of an improved cotton roll'holder which is simple in construction, durable, capable of eco'-' nomical manufacture; and adapted to be used upon patients of difierent size and characteristics.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, in which similar characters of reference indicate similar parts throughout the several views.

Referring to the drawings,

Fig. 1 is a view in 'perspective'showing a device embodying the invention, in position to hold cotton rolls on each side of the lower left teeth, and a third cotton roll outside the adjacent upper teeth;

Fig. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the lower cotton roll holder;

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary bottom plan View of the holder member of Fig. 2'; V

Fig. 4 is a transverse sectional view, taken on the plane er the line 1+1 of Fig. '3, looking in tliedir nbfthe arrows. V

Referring to -1? ig. 1 it) indicates in its entirety acqttoxi i'oll nae-er embodying m invention and shown installed with its lower parts on g f the submaiiillary teeth H. The cotton roll no preferabl is provided with a lower roll holdmg m far 12 and an upper roll holding member it, wh ch are resiliently secured together for rela tive increment by means of hinge formations 1; and a biasing spring I5.

The lower roll holding member, is preferably of substantially u shape, as seen in Fig. 1, with a pair of forwardly extending arms l6 and i1 joined by a fiat yoke 18. The arms I6 and l! may be regarded as partially tubular members; having a long oval cut-out I9 and 20 in each instance. 7 w

The bodies of the arms I 6 and I! are curved at 2! and 22 to substantially cylindrical shape; and these portions are joined by longitudinally extending, diametrically opposite portions 23. The shape and size of the partially cylindrical portions 2| and 22 ,aresuch that a cotton roll has a substantial fit ih these portions; and the arms l6 and l! form half cylindrical formations which egtend about the cotton rolls slightly more than degrees so that the cotton rolls are retaihed in the trough 24, which is provided by each of these frames. 4

The lower edges 25 on each of the side frame members 23 may turn in slightly to retain the cotton rolls; and these edges may be provided with 'inwardly tu'rned pointed prongs 26, there being two such prongs on each side, and the prongs being located at each end of the arm 18 and I 1 projecting inwardly from the lower edges 25.

The cotton rolls 21 and 28 held by the arms I6 and IT, respectively, have their uncovered parts turned downwardly into engagement with the tissues of the mouth between the cheek and the gums; but an upper portion of each cotton roll is exposed in the oval'cut-outs l9 and 20 for provided with a pair of partially cylindrical hinge formations 32, separated to re'ceive a similar hinge formation 33 6n the upper rollholding member la; and a headed pintle 34 passes through the hinge formations 32, 33 to mount them pivotally with respect to each other.

The pintle 34 is preferably longer than the hinge assembly 14 and projects laterally suiticient so that coil spring l may be wound upon the pintle 34. One end of the coil spring l5 extends tangentially from the coil spring l5 and is laterally turned at 35 to engage the upper side of the flat yoke I8, to which it may be soldered.

At its other end the spring l5 has a tangentially extending arm 36, which is formed with atransverse loop 3! extending about the upper roll holding member l3. The spring has its tangential arms and 36 so bent that they tend to spread the roll holding members, which can be forced together against the tension of the spring.

The upper roll holding member l3 preferably has a curved supporting portion 38 and a partially cylindrical roll holding portion 39. The roll holding portion again may be considered as a half cylindrical member with a long oval cutout 40. This half cylindrical member has its open side turned upwardly and laterally toward the upper teeth. Here again the edges 41 are located slightly beyond 180 degrees and are turned inwardly to grasp the upper cotton roll #12 and hold it in the upper trough.

At the front and back corners of the side portions 43 of this upper roll holding member 39 there may be inwardly turned pointed prongs M for engaging in the cotton roll. The upper trough is twisted, with its oval opening id extending downwardly and outwardly so that the cotton roll is presented upwardly and inwardly.

This causes the cotton roll to touch the hard tissues of the gum and keeps the metal out. of contact with the hard tissues of the gum.

The upper cotton roll is preferably so disposed that it blocks the issuance of secretions from the upper salivary glands.

The end portions 45 and 45 of the roll holding members [6 and H, and also the upper roll holding member 39, taper toward the transverse portions 2|, as seen in Fig. 2.

The device is preferably made of resilient stainless steel and the operation thereof is as follows: Fresh cotton rolls are first placed in all three troughs; and the patients mouth is thoroughly dried at points where the cotton rolls are to be installed.

The upper roll holding member I3 is then pressed downwardly toward the two lower roll holding members It and H; and the device is inserted in the mouth over the submaxillary teeth.

The operator must provide himself with a left-hand and a right-hand device so that each may be employed on the proper side of the mouth. The lower arms l6 and I! having been located upon opposite sides of the lower teeth, the upper arm I 3 is then permitted to spring upward into the space between the cheek and the upper teeth.

The device is now in such position that the operative field is completely exposed. It is practically impossible to displace the holder by the ordinary movements of the tongue and lips; and no adjustments are necessary on the roll holder. The operative field is completely exposed; and the gentle spring pressure, which urges the upper and lower rolls apart, adjusts itself and aids in keeping the patients mouth open.

Different sizes should be provided for the mouths of children from those used for adults.

It will thus be observed that I have invented an improved cotton roll holder which holds a roll in the cheek, is self-adjusting, cannot be displaced easily, and provides a completely clear operating field for easy access to all of the upper or lower teeth without any obstruction or interference on the part of the appliance. Maximum accessibility and vision are provided of the teeth on which work is to be done.

While I have illustrated a preferred embodiment of my invention, many modifications may be made without departing from the spirit of the invention, and I do not wish to be limited to the precise details of construction set forth, but desire to avail myself of all changes within the scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is:

1. A cotton roll holder for dental use, comprising a substantially U-shaped metal member formed with a backward yoke to be located behind the last molar tooth, the said yoke being formed on its outer rear corner with a hinge formation having a pintle, and the said yoke supporting a pair of forwardly extending legs of substantially half cylindrical shape, said legs being substantially parallel and spaced from each other suificiently to cause the cotton rolls, which they are to carry, to engage the gums on both sides of the teeth, each of said legs having the body of its partially cylindrical portion cut out over the major portion of its area to form an elongated oval rim, and said partially cylindrical portion having a pair of inwardly extending prongs on each of its sides diametrically inward to engagein a cotton roll, the legs being curved upward adjacent said yoke to bring the yoke into the level of the top of the molars, and an upper member carried by a hinge formation on said pintle, and comprising a sheet metal upwardly and forwardly curved supporting arm provided with an upwardly open half cylindrical metal formation for receiving a cotton roll for engaging the upper and outer gum at the molars, the said upper partially cylindrica1 formation also having an elongated oval cut-out, and being provided with a pair of prongs on each of its sides, engaging in the cotton roll, and means for urging the upper cotton roll into engagement with the upper gum by reacting against the two lower cotton rolls engaging the lower gums.

2. A cotton roll holder for dental use, comprising a substantially U-shaped metal member formed with a backward yoke to be located behind the last molar tooth, the said yoke being formed on its outer rear corner with a hinge formation having a pintle, and the said yoke supporting a pair of forwardly extending legs of substantially half cylindrical shape, said legs being substantially parallel and spaced from each other sufficiently to cause the cotton rolls, which they are to carry, to engage the gums on both sides of the teeth, each of said legs having the body of its partially cylindrical portion cut out over the major portion of its area to form an elongated oval rim, and said partially cylindrical portion having a pair of inwardly extending prongs on each of its sides diametrically inward to engage in a cotton roll, the legs being curved upward adjacent said yoke to bring the yoke into the level of the top of the molars, and an upper member carried by a hinge formation on said pintle, and comprising a sheet metal upwardly and forwardly curved supporting arm provided with an upwardly open half cylindrical metal formation for receiving a cotton roll for engaging the upper and outer gum at the molars, the said upper partially cylindrical formation also having an elongated oval cut-out, and being provided with a pair of prongs on each of its sides, engaging in the cotton roll, and means for urging the upper cotton roll into engagement with the upper gum by reacting against the two lower cotton rolls engaging the lower gums, the upper partially cylindrical formation having its open side turned inward to provide an unobstructed cotton roll area on the inner upper side of the upper roll.

3. A cotton roll holder for dental use, comprising a substantially U-shaped metal member formed with a backward yoke to be located behind the last molar tooth, the said yoke being formed on its outer rear corner with a hinge formation having a pintle, and the said yoke supporting a pair of forwardly extending legs of substantially half cylindrical shape, said legs being substantially parallel and spaced from each other sufiiciently to cause the cotton rolls, which they are to carry, to engage the gums on both sides of the teeth, each of said legs having the body of its partially cylindrical portion cut out over the major portion of its area to form an elongated oval rim, and said partially cylindrical portion having a pair of inwardly extending prongs on each of its sides diametrically inward to engage in a cotton roll, the legs being curved upward adjacent said yoke to bring the yoke into the level of the top of the molars, and an upper member carried by a hinge formation on said pintle, and comprising a sheet metal upwardly and forwardly curved supporting arm provided with an upwardly open half cylindrical metal formation for receiving a cotton roll for engaging the upper and outer gum at the molars, the said upper partially cylindrical formation also having an elongated oval cut-out, and being provided with a pair of prongs on each of its sides, engaging in the cotton roll, and means for urging the upper cotton roll into engagement with the upper gum by reacting against the two lower cotton rolls engaging the lower gums, comprising a coil spring having outwardly extending ends urging apart the two parts hinged on said pintle, the cotton rolls staying in place automatically during any position of opening or closure of the mouth of the patient.

JACK C. KAlNTER.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 152,074 Chevalier June 16 1874 999,373 Kestler Aug. 1, 1911 1,010,147 Ivory Nov. 28, 1911 1,229,595 Du Brul June 12, 1917 

